BAKERSFIELD SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS SUMMER 2014 FREE

Greetings Friends,It has been awhile since

our last newsletter, which is a good thing because we have been so incredibly busy at the shelter.

First the really great news: our donor support over the last year has risen again, giving us hope and help for our future. We received a generous grant from The Bakersfield Californian Foundation to remodel our small dog area and add outdoor cat space.

Successful eventsOur Furry Paws Annual Event

was our largest ever and featured a special video of our work, courtesy of Conor Ferguson. Our Book Sale held on to the same totals as last year. Our Summer Day Camp sold out for all six weeks, which is a huge salute to all of our youth who

are becoming more involved in our animal community.

All of these gifts and events help us to do more and more each day and we can’t thank this amazing community enough for the support!

City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center

As most of you know, we now also oversee operations for the City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center located on Mt. Vernon Ave., which has been one of the greatest challenges and privileges in the past nine months. The Shelter is now running like clockwork, with everyone eager to see fewer animals coming in and more going to new homes.

This past 4th of July, we held a special re-homing event to get animals back with their owners after fireworks led to the intake of more than 140 dogs in one short week.

We hold weekly and monthly vaccine clinics to try and bring disease down in the community and we

Director’s MessageExciting improvements for local animals

are teaming up with Kern County Animal Services for new collaborative programs and adoption events.

Unleash Your LoveNext up for the SPCA is our

Annual Unleash Your Love event with sponsors KGET-17 and Rabobank. And NEW this year — we will be holding a hot dog barbecue lunch with the gracious Team Halliburton manning the grills!

The “Dogs & Kats” lunch will include a hot dog and a KitKat bar along with chips and a bottle of water. Lunch will be available for $5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Dogs & Kats is the theme.)

OpportunitiesWe are in need of volunteers,

foster parents and board members. If you can’t adopt a pet, please consider giving of your time, talent or treasure in any number of ways.

Without you, none of our growing work would be possible. THANK YOU!

Until next time, peace, love and blessings,

Julie JohnsonExecutive DirectorBakersfield SPCA Fun was had by all at Furry Paws and Foggy Nights.

Thank you to all of our auction item donors.

IN THIS ISSUE

Unleash Your Love — September 16!

Emergency Preparedness

Socialize Your Dog

Affordable Spay and Neuter Solution

SAVE THE DATEFurry Paws and Foggy Nights

February 27, 2015

ADOPT TODAY!

The Adoption Center is openMonday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

FEES

Dogs – $100Cats – $60

Includes shots, ID microchipping and new leash!

NOVASince August 2011

I would love to be part of your family.

2 BAKERSFIELD SPCA S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

Did you know that you can donate items to the Bakersfield SPCA at Amazon.com?

Click on Wish List then enter Bakersfield SPCA in the Find someone’s list box.

With some planning, fundraising and coordination of a work crew, the Bakersfield SPCA received a beautiful facelift in the front area of the Adoption Center, including custom planter boxes, benches and even the “must have” ornamental fire hydrant.

Thanks to William Ryan who completed his Eagle Scout project by providing this great upgrade to our facility.

The planter boxes were planted with rose trees and bedding plants. Everything is weather proofed and

Eagle Scout provides facelift for SPCA Adoption Center

many have enjoyed an outdoor place to sit while waiting for family members who are adopting a pet or waiting with their furry friend for a meet and greet with a shelter companion.

A big high five to William for thinking about the SPCA and the animals with this undertaking, and congratulations on earning his Eagle Scout Badge!

BELLASince December 2013

TYLERSince June 2013

CHLOESince January 2014

S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 BAKERSFIELD SPCA 3

Tuesday, Sept. 165 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.22nd & M Streets (Across the street from KGET-TV 17)

• Dog & Cat Adoptions• Low Cost Microchip Clinic $20• Hot Dog Barbecue Lunch $5• Local Celebrity Lockups• Drive through and fill up our

Donation Bank!

Saving Lives

One Paw at a Time

NEWBBQ LUNCH

Hot Dog Barbecue Lunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.!Pick up lunch for only $5 — includes hot dog, chips, water and a KitKat bar!

Credit Card Donations will be accepted all day by calling 323-8353

to go that will accommodate you and your pets.

Be ready, especially in outlying areas, in case of fire or any emergency.

We, as a state, need to conserve water and resources. Preparedness is the key.

4 BAKERSFIELD SPCA S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

MAXSince August 2013

TIPPYSince February 2013

DUKESince September 2013

information and numbers, including an emergency contact number of someone that doesn’t live in the same area as you do.

TrainingTrain your pet to come when

called, especially when scared or nervous. This is very important! Leash and lead train them. Train them to load in a crate or kennel and a vehicle. Let them learn to be comfortable in a crate. Have it be their home away from home. Make sure your crates have your information on them, including an emergency contact.

CollectionCollect a copy of your pet’s rabies

and vaccination records, important health records and medication. Have a supply of food, treats, water and bowls in an “emergency” kit. Be sure to keep them fresh and rotate the supplies frequently.

Have a plan, both evacuation means and method, as well as where

by Dr. Rose Rakow, D.V.M.Bakersfield SPCA Board President

I recently read an article in a horse journal regarding wildfires

and what to do if evacuation is required. This year all of California is experiencing a severe drought. The fire season started early and will last longer than normal due to these conditions.

It is not something most people think about in regards to our dogs and cats, but we should. Being prepared for any disaster is similar … It involves identification, training and collection.

IdentificationIdentify your pet by microchip,

collar and tag. Make sure names and numbers on collars and tags are current and readable. Include a tag with vital medical information (ie. allergy, heart, kidney disease) Make sure to keep the microchip registry current with

Prepared for Emergency

Go to https://smile.amazon.com/Charity is listed under our legal name: Bakersfield Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization. You can choose from nearly one million organizations to support. (Description reprinted from http://smile.amazon.com/about)

You can

support the

Bakersfield SPCA

when you shop

at Amazon

DEXTERSince December 2011

ADOPTTODAY!

ANNIESince January 2013

S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 BAKERSFIELD SPCA 5

We are now accepting upscale Furniture and Home Goods for our

annual sale at the SPCA.

Large appliances must be no more than three years old. No clothing or books

will be accepted for this sale.

Pawtiques & Treasures Sale

The Pawtiques & Treasures Sale will be held November 1 & 2

Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Please bring your donation to the SPCA

at 3000 Gibson St.

Kids and Critters Summer Day

Camp Fun

Our Summer Day Camp was a huge sellout this year!

Kids learned how to train and groom dogs, visited CALM, made animal-themed crafts, learned all about vaccinating, spaying/neutering and more.

Campers also enjoyed special visits from Roaming Reptiles and The Bakersfield Police Department’s K-9 units, who demonstrated how special service dogs are.

Special thank yous go out to all who make day camp a huge success!

Officer Ashby and his dog Jax visited the campers.

SASY PANTSSince November 2013

6 BAKERSFIELD SPCA S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

When it comes to foster parenting you couldn’t find a better duo! Board member Bonnie Peterson has been fostering animals for the SPCA for years and quite recently she took on a four-legged partner by the name of Roofie.

Roofie is a beautiful female Boxer-Lab-Pit mix, about 2 years old. She was turned into the City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center on Halloween. She was full of milk, but there were no puppies with her. Bonnie had just picked up a litter of puppies who didn’t have a Mama with them. And that was the start of their “partnership.”

Roofie fed those babies (I believe there were six) for a couple of weeks until they were old enough to be weaned, and she thought she was done. But the City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center called and told Bonnie five more orphaned puppies showed up and they needed Roofie to feed them.

Once again the Dynamic Duo came to the rescue and cared for those babies for four weeks.

On December 6, 2014, in the dead of night 15 orphaned puppies were left on the doorstep of the SPCA. We found them when we arrived at 7 a.m. and the poor things were in a wet box with a damp blanket! We were able to find fosters for seven of the babies, but that still left eight hungry ones.

Once again Bonnie and Roofie stepped up, and Roofie took on eight more puppies to feed.

Now that’s three litters (none of them her babies) she fed, a total of 19 puppies in two and a half months. This was one tired Mama dog!

We had promised Bonnie that when her partner retired, she would come to the SPCA to recuperate

PAW PRINTS

ADOPTTODAY!

LUCYSince October 2011

Roofie

before we found her a forever home. She was the sweetest girl and we couldn’t wait to put her up for adoption.

Finally she was ready for adoption. Her girlish figure had returned, her coat was shining and her eyes were

sparkling. A wonderful family with four children fell in lover with her. She was, of course, great with the kids after spending all that time with all of Bonnie’s kids.

So Roofie has a new home and officially retired from fostering … but she now has a kind and loving family to care for.

Bonnie is fostering yet another litter of puppies. Were are so lucky to have someone like her to help out.

As a footnote, in case anyone is curious as to how Roofie got her name, there is quite a story behind it. She

would climb a series of fences on Bonnie’s property until she finally reached the roof, where she jumped over and found her sunning spot and managed a few minutes of ALONE time. Thus Roofie!

by Deryle Kidner , SPCA Adoption Counselor

BE INVOLVED!We are in need of volunteers, foster

parents and board members.

For more information call (661) 323-8353.

SAMPSONSince October 2013

S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 BAKERSFIELD SPCA 7

SIMONSince July 2013

TCSince April 2012

• NEVER use a negative action or voice when your dog is coming towards you or making eye contact.

• Never correct your dog if you do not catch them in the act. A three second rule applies. A late correction will only confuse them.

• Tone of voice – Use contrast in your voice to give your dog a clear message.

• Dogs have superior hearing in comparison to humans. Your commands need not be loud.

• Fears – Desensitize by increasing pleasure and exposure. Help them realize that life is good!

Take Them To Pet Friendly Places (Home Depot, Pet Shops, Parks, Pet Friendly Friend’s Homes, Outdoor Cafe’s, Most Banks

(Take them in the car on short trips; they can wait in the car if the outside temperature is 70 degrees or below. Crate them if they are not yet trustworthy when left unattended.)

Please don’t hesitate to call for advice or problem solving. My goal is to help you help your dog to be a pleasure to

be around!

Jacqueline Aguilar (661) 363-6000 Owner, Oh My Dog Grooming,

Boarding and Training

• “Off ” means get off the furniture, get off of me, etc. “Down” means the “down” position.

• “Leave it” means “Not now, maybe later”, like sniffing the ground or socializing.

• “NO” is ALWAYS NO, NEVER. This behavior is never permitted, like aggression or stealing food.

• There will be good days and bad days. Mistakes will be made. Work through them. Dogs are not robots.

• Think of class like when you were in elementary school. We will have a class clown, an over achiever, and under achiever, a social butterfly, someone with ADD or ADHD. Not all dogs learn at the same pace.

• Training never stops!

NONPROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDBAKERSFIELD, CAPERMIT NO. 287

ADOPTION CENTER

3000 GIBSON ST.

BAKERSFIELD, CA 93308

(661) 323-8353

BAKERSFIELDSPCA.ORG

‘‘Never doubt that a small

group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can

change the world;

indeed, it’s the only thing

that ever has.

’’margaret mead

The Bakersfield SPCA is thrilled to be able to refer Kern County residents to the new Critters without Litters Low Cost Spay and Neuter program. The mission of the nonprofit organization is to seek to end the preventable euthanasia of healthy, adoptable pets in Kern County through strong alliances with the community, local businesses and nonprofit organizations, to increase the number of cats and dogs that are spayed and neutered, while promoting animal health and safety within our community.

Pricing for cats is $40 for males and $50 for females. Pricing for dogs begins at $65 for males and $70 for females 60 pounds and under. For dogs 61 pounds or more, it’s $75 for males and $80 for females. Additional fees will be charged for in-heat or pregnant females, cryptorchidism (retained testicle) in males, or umbilical hernia repair.

The office is located at 4300 Stine Road, Suite 720 in Bakersfield and is open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are necessary for spay/neuter surgery. Call Critters Without Litters at (661) 831-6000 to schedule an appointment. All pets must be secured in a carrier or on a leash when coming to the clinic for their appointment.

An affordable spay and neuter solution

2013-2014 Bakersfield SPCABoard of Directors

President ...................Rose Rakow, D.V.M.Past President.......................... Laurie WeirVice-President................Melonie ShugartSecretary ................................. Claudia BurkTreasurer ............................Denise Segrest

Linda CatesBonnie Petersen

Departmental Staff

Julie Johnson .............Executive Director(661) 323-8353 ....................... Extension 12

Tracy Castro ...................... Office Manager(661) 323-8353 ........................Extension 11

Chuck Nordstrom ...........Public Relations(661) 323-8353 ....................... Extension 10

Members-at-Large

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: September 16, 2014, Unleash Your Love and November 1 & 2, 2014, Pawtiques & Treasures Sale!

Critter Chronicle is produced by the Bakersfield SPCA

Graphic Design: Jessica Bloom Creative